How to Pax Americana?

[Egg_Chef]

I recently picked up the Multiversity Hardback because such a good series needs a place on my shelf. I am loving reading the series again but, I find myself stuck on Pax Americana. This is my first time giving it a read since it's release and I really do love it and appreciate it for the art it is but it still hasn't "clicked" for me. Does anyone have any suggestions of how many times and in what ways it should be read? This really can be an apparition thread for Pax, I just want the hear people's views.

[MorganL]

The thing with pax is you have to continue to read pax to really get it. Best thing to do is just reread until you get it.

[millernumber1]

Strip Panel Naked had a really strong video analysis of it. I would recommend that for a start.

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

Strip Panel Naked had a really strong video analysis of it. I would recommend that for a start.

I'll actually link it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKIkSBpTixA

Anyway, OP, Pax Americana is easily #2 favorite comic/story of all time. Only behind Daytripper. Truly amazing in its storytelling and meta story. I loved it after the first read, but reading articles/forums or watching videos on it really does help bring a greater appreciation for and understanding of it.

[MajorHoy]

Well, since the Wikipedia entry on Pax Americana has Morrison describing it as "his Citizen Kane and "if Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons had pitched the Watchmen now, rooted in a contemporary political landscape", the question(s) might be if you've seen the movie Citizen Kane and if you've read the original Watchmen series (from back in 1986-87) by Moore & Gibbons?

[Rod G]

Well, since the Wikipedia entry on Pax Americana has Morrison describing it as "his Citizen Kane and "if Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons had pitched the Watchmen now, rooted in a contemporary political landscape", the question(s) might be if you've seen the movie Citizen Kane and if you've read the original Watchmen series (from back in 1986-87) by Moore & Gibbons?

That is what sold me on Pax Americana in the first place.

[Sharkey]

I read it a couple times before hitting up various annotations online. Reading it after that really made me appreciate all the attentions to detail - especially the panel compositions and sly nods to Watchmen.

[CentralPower]

The gimmick for "Pax Americana" is complex breakdowns. The individual pages "force" you (the reader) to move your head and eyes out of normal sequence (which brings the mind-control aspect of "Multiversity" off the page and too the reader).

In one issue, Morrison riffs on (and exceeds Moore), demonstrates his and Quietely's technical skills, comments on the state of comics (or art) and adds to "Multiversity" as a series (or compilation, depending on how you bought it). The only real problem with "Pax Americana" is that it requires readers to understand and care about the technical side of comics.

[Egg_Chef]

Cheers everyone.

[Thor-Ul]

The gimmick for "Pax Americana" is complex breakdowns. The individual pages "force" you (the reader) to move your head and eyes out of normal sequence (which brings the mind-control aspect of "Multiversity" off the page and too the reader).

In one issue, Morrison riffs on (and exceeds Moore), demonstrates his and Quietely's technical skills, comments on the state of comics (or art) and adds to "Multiversity" as a series (or compilation, depending on how you bought it). The only real problem with "Pax Americana" is that it requires readers to understand and care about the technical side of comics.

Yes, that one of the main ponts of Pax americana and also the critic to how Watchmen wa understood. Watchmen was not only about dark depressed grim vigilantes, ut it was a work about how the comic have a wide array of narrative possibilities, with all the repeated panels, the multiple symbols and iconogrphy. That is why Morison played with the 8 panel pages, thecircle figures, the repeated appearance of the eight number, and so.

[Rod G]

Yes, that one of the main ponts of Pax americana and also the critic to how Watchmen wa understood. Watchmen was not only about dark depressed grim vigilantes, ut it was a work about how the comic have a wide array of narrative possibilities, with all the repeated panels, the multiple symbols and iconogrphy. That is why Morison played with the 8 panel pages, thecircle figures, the repeated appearance of the eight number, and so.

Nice way of putting it.

[CentralPower]

DC actually released an annotated edition of "Pax Americana". Not sure what the print run was. But, I do not recall it being especially rare. I would recommend picking that up.

(Sorry, I just remembered the annotated edition today.)